Interview with Alan L. Hanson, Fairfax County Police Dept., Director of NOVARIS

FB
As I understand it, the Fairfax County Police Department has been utilizing digital fingerprints to identify criminals since 1984, and you incorporated facial recognition in 2007. Could you tell our readers what some of the milestones regarding biometrics have been, during this time?

Fairfax County PD
Yes, thank-you for asking; the systems that we’ve used have gone through various iterations and upgrades over the years, the most recent of which was achieved in Fairfax County and, actually, the entire National Capital Region (NCR) in 2006. First, let me explain which participating jurisdictions are found within the NCR. NOVARIS— which is an acronym for the Northern Virginia Regional Identification System includes the counties of Arlington, Prince William, Loudoun and Fairfax, as well as the Cities of Alexandria, Falls Church and Fairfax (a separate city jurisdiction within Fairfax County). Also in the NCR is the Regional Automated Fingerprint Identification System (RAFIS), which includes Montgomery County and Prince George’s County in Maryland; and DC-AFIS, which is Washington DC’s automated fingerprint identification system.

In 2006 a near simultaneous upgrade of the entire NCR automated finger identification system (AFIS) occurred. In 2005 we solicited for grant funding through the Urban Areas Securities Initiative (UASI), to allow us to replace the existing system, —the legacy system—, which we had found to be rather unsustainable at the time. Since it was due for an upgrade, we took the opportunity to use the UASI grant funds to refresh the system in order that the NCR could stand-up a system where all the separate regional systems could connect and communicate to share information. When the process began in 2006, and went on-line throughout 2006/2007, it allowed for much greater sharing of data in the improved AFIS system. The new system has increased the amount of latent hits received from each jurisdiction, essentially generating more leads for cases across the entire NCR; so, I would say that the regional AFIS upgrade was a major milestone that we have had recently.

That same grant funding also allowed us to stand-up a regional mugshot system. At present, the mugshot systems are stand-alone in each jurisdiction. This system enables them to use facial recognition for searching their individual mug shot databases. We recently received additional grant funding to allow these independent mug shot databases to share information. When this upgrade is complete each, jurisdiction will be able to search the other’s mug shot systems using facial recognition software to aid in criminal investigations. This will be another major milestone.

FB
You mentioned NOVARIS, would you care to tell us a little bit more about that and how many records are actually available there? As well, I also understand that you recently moved into a new, state-of-the-art operation centre, would you also elaborate on that for our readers?

Fairfax County PD
Yes, certainly; I am currently the Director of NOVARIS, and Dave Russell, is our System Manager; his responsibilities include taking care of the technical aspects of the system. The facility that we moved into, the McConnell Public Safety and Transportation Operation Centre, (MPSTOC), is located in the city of Fairfax. The spaces that we now occupy house the latent fingerprint examiners from our jurisdiction, and also has enough room for latent examiners from the other jurisdictions who are participants in NOVARIS. The building and operations centre at MPSTOC are world class and a pleasure to be associated with.

NOVARIS, the Northern Virginia Regional Identification System, as we spoke about earlier, was stood up in 1983, and really began to take shape in 1984, when all the different jurisdictions in Northern Virginia began utilizing its space and equipment for conducting fingerprint searches. Currently, between five and six hundred thousand records are on file in NOVARIS, with similar amounts in DC and in Maryland, making it about 1.5 million records that we can search against in the NCR.

The new system that was purchased in 2006 allows for remote access to our regional system from all participating jurisdictions within NOVARIS, thus enabling examiners to work remotely from multi-print and review stations at their home facilities. Being able to do their work at their home agency increases efficiency and lowers costs as well. Currently, the principal users of NOVARIS headquarters in MPSTOC are Fairfax County latent examiners, latent examiners for Fairfax City and Falls Church City, the NOVARIS System Manager and the Director of NOVARIS. Each participating agency has office space at NOVARIS which can be utilized as needed or in the event of an emergency.

FB
You mentioned data-sharing, and I know that that is a very important part of your work, would you please elaborate a little bit on that area and where you see it moving in the future?

Fairfax County PD
Most certainly; again, this goes back to the UASI grant, which was created to promote interoperability and information sharing among regions in the country, in our case, within the National Capital Region. In the past, each jurisdiction maintained their own files and then they would forward their information—such as fingerprints, ten-print cards and things of that nature—to the state system and to the FBI. Essentially, there wasn’t any regional collaboration with regards to that information; it was simply a matter of having your own system with which to run any obtained fingerprints against or sending those requests to the state system or the FBI.

Back in the early 1980s our then Chief, Carroll Buracker began looking at the way we processed our latent evidence and saw the need for a regional system that the local jurisdictions could build and control. The thought being that this would result in quicker search and return times for any cases that we might be investigating. For the most part, criminals operate locally. Our goal in standing-up this regional system was to harness the value of having access to all of our local information quickly. Again, since criminals do cross borders and commit similar crimes in neighbouring jurisdictions, connecting the entire NCR was a logical progression for system integration. The ability to search the records or data-bases of other jurisdictions is vital to good police-work and to solving cross jurisdictional crime.

FB
What kind of standards do you use for that information sharing?

Fairfax County PD
Well, as far as the packets of information that go back and forth, it’s basically NIST standards. But, as far as the agreements for individual jurisdictions to share information, these come about through memos of understanding which spell out the situations and scope of the information to be shared. Basically, each agency spells out what they need, and/or what they are willing to share with the others, and then the other agencies will sign off on it, arriving at a mutual agreement. We are in the process of formally creating the NCR Automated Biometric Identification System (NCR-ABIS) to increase the information sharing and biometric capabilities of the regional system.

FB
I understand that iris-recognition may be part of the next phase of your development; would you care to tell us some more about this?

Fairfax County PD
Certainly, yes. We’re currently working towards standing up a regional iris-system. There seems to be a lot of interest from detention facilities or jails to have their jail-management systems include iris scanning. Instead of having the inmates provide their fingerprint for identity verification purposes, which takes longer and requires more direct involvement from the inmate, they can use an iris scan to identify the subject as they enter the facility and at other strategic areas within their facility. The iris-packet of information is so quick to search, that it makes their jobs that much easier. This can be especially useful in emergency situations such as jail evacuation. You can rapidly scan evacuees with a hand-held or stationary device, and then, once the evacuation scenario is complete, you can then account for them all when you’re scanning back in. I believe that it’s a good system for that. Additionally, the iris can be used for release or transfer verification as well as identification upon initial entry into the facility so that the deputy or corrections officer will know whether the subject has ever been to their facility even before they speak to them.

For police departments, the iris scan system would be used specifically in the area of identification. We would rather have the ability to make a positive identification from a distance, since this is always preferable when one is dealing with criminals. While an officer is taking fingerprints, he or she is forced to get very up-close and personal in proximity to the other person, as compared with iris scanning system, where technology is developing so that you can make an identification from an ever increasing distance.

We are already seeing civilian applications of iris technology, such as in Heathrow Airport, in England, where they have launched the Iris Recognition Immigration System (IRIS). The system is set up so that registered passengers provide a scan of their iris to their immigration system, which results in their having a reduced amount of screening time when they are checking in at Heathrow. At this point it’s a voluntary program which provides the participant much greater ease in their transition through the airport.

FB
I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but Iris is also used by the airports here in Canada…a program called RAIC.

Fairfax County PD
Oh, really? I would be most interested to see the information on that, and how that is working as well. We see that as an opportunity for the future as well, as you are aware.

FB
Then you will be pleased to know that our next interview is with Rob Durward, Director Technical Programs for Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) and he will be speaking about exactly that!

Fairfax County PD
I look forward to seeing that.

I believe it is valuable to know who people are in those types of scenarios, or in areas, for instance, where you have secure spaces such as those in an airport, or a jail, or even a courthouse; places where security is vital. In this day and age, it would be most beneficial to know who may be a terrorist, or even who may be a wanted when entering a restricted area. The fraudulent IDs used to enable the attacks on 9-11 prove the necessity of proper identification, so having a biometric ID would solve a lot of identification issues.

In addition, we are also looking regionally, at how we can utilize an iris identification system for what we refer to as, first-responders. As you might be aware, first responders such as police, fire and rescue personnel have different badges, and/or different Proximity Cards that they carry to gain access to different places. As a result, we would like to explore the possibility of using the iris scanning system as a means of credentialing for law enforcement personnel and other first-responders when entering and exiting a scene, an in-the-field access management of sorts. I believe the iris scan to be a good system to use for that, we just need to explore it a little further.

FB
Earlier you mentioned a hand-held unit; so then, how does your department utilize mobile biometric devices?

Fairfax County PD
We currently employ a Datastrip model, but we’re looking at other models as well. The Datastrip Mobile AFIS is a fingerprint and a facial recognition system we use in the field. The Mobile AFIS is used by our patrol units, neighbourhood patrol units,— which are our bike-teams, gang units, narcotics units, fugitive section, crime scene section and crash reconstruction section. The circumstances of the encounter dictate the use of the device. It is used most often in a voluntary capacity; for example, the person to be identified does not have identification, or provides what is known to be fake documents. The officer will challenge them as to their true identity. The officer will then ask the individual to volunteer to use the mobile AFIS device to confirm their identity or provide some other proof of their identity. This works particularly well in situations where the person is under arrest for a traffic or summons releasable offense where they could be issued a summons and released if they could provide confirmation of their identification through a valid license or ID. If the subject has neither, they can volunteer to use the mobile AFIS to avoid having to be taken before a magistrate. If the subject is under arrest, then they just come with us anyway, and we go to a jail facility where we confirm their identity through our live-scan systems. But, when our personnel are out in the field, it is used as voluntary identification system.

FB
In general, what kind of feedback do you get from your officers in the field?

Fairfax County PD
When we first deployed the devices, the software was a little complicated. It wasn’t as intuitive as it might have been. Recognizing this, we worked with the vendor to improve the software. This next generation of the software made it more user-friendly, and easier. As a result, there has been a lot of positive feedback.

At present we’re getting a lot of positive feedback from the region. As with all new technology, some things take a little getting used to, but now it’s widely accepted as a tool of the trade. In terms of looking to the future, we’re researching the idea of making the Mobile AFIS even smaller. What we’re looking for are devices that are small enough that they can be easily carried in a shirt pocket, and that can be paired to a laptop, or a PDA, as their transmission portal. This way, it can be with the officer or detective at all times, while keeping their hands free and allowing for easy mobility. The device would allow us to rapidly obtain fingerprints; additionally, we’re looking at utilizing a regular camera, or a PDA camera, to take photos and enter them in our facial recognition system.

We are trying to take the equipment we already have on hand, like PDAs and laptops that have mobile connectivity, and increase their functionality by adding both fingerprint and facial recognition applications to them to maximize their usefulness. We would use a store and forward device paired to the laptop or PDA via Bluetooth ® or some other means; we would then send the packet of information back to our servers to conduct the search and then have the return sent back to the PDA or laptop. Our aim is to lower our costs while also increasing our efficiencies and capabilities in the field.

FB
Since you’ve started to talk a little bit about the future, I’d be very interested to hear, especially based on the years of experience that you’ve had in biometrics and watching the technology grow, were you to put on your future-gazing goggles, in around five to seven years down-the-road, what things do you envision that might be possible in the law enforcement area?

Fairfax County PD
Well, we are looking at multi-model devices that would include fingerprint, face recognition and iris identification systems. We look at high profile scenarios, whether it be situations such as inaugurations, or other large scale events where, having the ability to identify individuals who may be terrorists or violent criminals among thousands of people entering a restricted area would be invaluable. Using iris and facial recognition biometric identifications systems, you’re not inconveniencing the masses, but yet at the same time, you’re still gaining valuable information about certain people that may be a threat to others attending these events. The objective is that you want to be as unobtrusive as you can, yet still be as safe as you can. I believe you will see this to some degree in the not too distant future, but only in locations where you’ll have restricted access, such as airports or other sensitive locations. There will always be a need for law enforcement to be able to identify the people they are talking to. In law enforcement, it is commonplace for people to lie to you. They lie to you about a wide variety of things, and a lot of times, they lie is about their identity.

As you may be aware, from the law enforcement’s perspective, if they are lying to you about their identification, more often than not they’re concealing it because they have a warrant out against them or they are a person-of-interest in something else. Thankfully, the current advances in biometrics are beginning to provide us with the tools to identify the people with whom we’re speaking, and in turn get the criminals off the street quicker so that they do not commit more crimes.

FB
I do appreciate you taking the time out to tell us about your systems and your work in the industry over the last 15 to 20 years. It is most impressive, what you have achieved utilizing biometrics in Law Enforcement. I am looking forward to seeing what will be happening next, with NOVARIS and the FCPD; all the best in your future endevours.

Fairfax County PD
You are most welcome Peter. I enjoyed our discussion.